Physiological and Physical Movement Detection Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A physiological and physical movement detection apparatus for detecting physiological conditions of a human body and environment information during exercises includes a sensor and a fixing element. The sensor includes a sensing module, a physiological signal sensor, a physical movement sensing module, a positioning module, a micro-processor and a wireless transmission module. The micro-processor includes a computing unit and a storage unit. The computing unit computes each signal of the physiological signal sensor, movement sensing module and positioning module to produce and store display data into the storage unit. When a remote device is online, the display data are outputted to the remote device through the wireless transmission module; when the remote device is not online, the display data are stored in the storage unit to prevent losing the sensed data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 102223801 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Dec. 17, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a physiological and physical movement detection apparatus capable of detecting various physiological signals of a human body and various parameters of an exercise environment by an electric conduction method, compiling and storing the physiological signals and parameters, and displaying the detected values for users through a wireless transmission method.

2. Description of the Related Art

At present, people train their body and improve their physical strength through different types of exercises and also monitor the numeric values during exercises to adjust the exercise strength and plan a complete training program, so that a variety of physiological signal detecting apparatuses are developed to meet different user requirements for the exercises.

In general, a conventional physiological detecting apparatus for exercises senses a heart rate by a heartbeat detecting unit which is worn on a human body, and transmits the detection result to a receiver tied at a human wrist by a wireless transmission method, so that users can read the detection result during their exercises. However, most receivers are in form of a watch worn at the wrist, so that the display area is limited and unable to display sufficient information, and such display simply shows the heart rate sensed by the heartbeat detecting unit, but fails to set other setting for the heartbeat detecting unit. The simple function of receiving information is insufficient to meet the user requirements. Therefore, people expect to use the physiological values of a human body as a basis for arranging their exercise program. The only information of the heart rate measurement for each time of exercise is incomplete, since other physiological values including electrocardiogram (ECG) or electromyography (EMG) are also important information used for evaluating the physical and health conditions of the users.

Besides displaying insufficient information, the conventional receiver needs to be connected to the heartbeat detecting unit via a wireless transmission all the time so that the users can read the detection result. Once the online connection is interfered or disconnected, the detection result will be lost and cannot be recovered even after reconnection. Therefore, the receiver just display the real-time detected status, and all information will be lost at an offline situation. Obviously, such application is ineffective and inconvenient.

In view of the aforementioned drawbacks of the conventional physiological sensing apparatus, the inventor of the present invention designed and developed a physiological and physical movement detection apparatus to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a physiological and physical movement detection apparatus for detecting various different physiological signals of a human body and various different parameters of an environment by an electric conduction method during exercises, and a processor uses time as a basis for computation and integration to generate data of diversified information, ad the data are provided for the users' viewing through a wireless transmission method.

A secondary objective is to provide a physiological and physical movement detection apparatus capable of continuing various detection without interrupting the recording of data when a remote device is offline, and storing the all information in a storage unit. When the remote device resumes its online status, the stored data are read and timely provided for users' viewing, so as to prevent losing the detected records in the offline status, so that users can plan for a long-term exercise program and detect their health condition.

To achieve the aforementioned and other objectives, the present invention provides a physiological and physical movement detection apparatus for detecting a physiological condition and a movement status of a human body during an exercise, recording and transmitting related information to a remote device, and providing the related information to a user, wherein the physical and activity detection apparatus comprises a sensor and a fixing element, and the sensor is fixed onto a human body through the fixing element and further comprises a sensing module, a physiological signal sensor, a movement sensing module, a positioning module, a micro-processor and a wireless transmission module installed therein, and the micro-processor is electrically coupled to the physiological signal sensor, the movement sensing module, the positioning module and the wireless transmission module, and the detection results are transmitted to the micro-processor, and then data are transmitted to the remote device through the wireless transmission module, and the physiological and physical movement detection apparatus is characterized in that the sensing module is electrically coupled to the physiological signal sensor, and the electric conduction method is provided for collecting a heart rate, an electrocardiogram (ECG) status and an electromyography (EMG) status of the human body, transmitting the information to the physiological signal sensor, and generating a physiological value signal, and the movement sensing module and the positioning module detect and generate a movement signal and a positioning signal respectively to obtain information of activity status and positioning information of the user, and the physiological value signal, the movement signal and the positioning signal are transmitted to the micro-processor, wherein the sensor further comprises a timing module electrically coupled to the micro-processor, so that when the physiological and physical movement detection apparatus is turned on to start timing and keeps transmitting a time signal to the micro-processor, and the micro-processor comprises a computing unit and a storage unit, and the computing unit computes the physiological value signal, the movement signal and the positioning signal and uses the time signal as a basis for a compilation to generate display data, and the display data is stored in the storage unit, and when the remote device is online and connected to the sensor, the display data are transmitted to the remote device instantly through the wireless transmission module and provided for the user's viewing, and when the remote device is offline, the display data are stored into the storage unit continuously.

Wherein, the movement sensing module comprises a linear acceleration sensing unit and an angular acceleration sensing unit for sensing an exercise status of the user, and the linear acceleration sensing unit and the angular acceleration sensing unit obtain a linear acceleration value and an angular acceleration value respectively and compile the values into the movement signal to be transmitted to the micro-processor, and then the computing unit obtains a step length and a moving speed of the exercise status of the user. The positioning module positioning module comprises a GPS unit and an air pressure sensing unit, and a satellite positioning method is provided for confirming the user's current position, and the air pressure sensing unit is provided for detecting the current altitude of the user and compiling the user's current position and altitude into the positioning signal to be transmitted to the micro-processor, and then the computing unit combines a geographic location with the altitude information to obtain the user's exercise path and current position.

The present invention further comprises a temperature sensing module and a vibration module for providing more environment data to the users to facilitate the users to plan for a complete exercise program, and the temperature sensing module and the vibration module are electrically coupled to the micro-processor, and the temperature sensing module is used for detecting a human body temperature or an external temperature and transmitting a temperature signal to the micro-processor. When a user inputs a predetermined time through the remote device and after the timing module transmits the time signal corresponding to the predetermined time, the micro-processor drives the vibration module to achieve the effect of reminding the user.

In addition, the display data include one or more selected from the group consisting of a heart rate, an electrocardiogram (ECG), an electromyography (EMG), a step count, a step length, a moving speed, a current position coordinate, a moving path map, a consumed time, a body temperature and a current temperature, and the wireless transmission module is connected to the remote device via a transmission method selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G and 4G.

The fixing element is a strip structure for being tied onto the user's chest, and the fixing element includes a pair of conductive electrode plates and a pair of conductive fasteners, wherein the pair of conductive fasteners are preferably in form of a through hole and have a first end and a second end, and the first end is greater than the second end, and the pair of electrode contacts are latched from the first end and moved to the second end to define a latched status.

The sensor includes a pair of electrode contacts corresponding to the sensing module, such that after the fixing element is surrounded around the user's chest, the pair of electrode contacts and the pair of conductive fasteners are engaged with each other for fixing the fixing element and the sensor to a human body for performing a subsequent detection.

Wherein, the sensor includes a power supply element for driving the physiological and physical movement detection apparatus. Preferably, the power supply element is a rechargeable battery, and the present invention further comprises a charging cradle corresponding to the pair of electrode contacts and having a pair of charging slots provided for conducting the pair of electrode contacts to perform an electric charging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a first schematic view of an application of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a second schematic view of an application of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a first schematic view of a sensor and a charging cradle of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a second schematic view of a sensor and a charging cradle of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The technical content of the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of preferred embodiments and the illustration of related drawings as follows.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3-4 and 5-6 for the block diagram, schematic views of different applications, and a schematic view of a sensor and a charging cradle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention respectively, a physiological and physical movement detection apparatus 1 of the present invention is provided for detecting a physiological condition and a movement status of a human body during an exercise, and recording and transmitting related information to a remote device 2, so that users can monitor their physical conditions during the exercise. Preferably, the remote device 2 is a Smartphone or a tablet PC which is portable and comes with a display screen. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus comprises a sensor 10 and a fixing element 11, wherein the sensor 10 is fixed onto a human body through the fixing element 11 and includes a sensing module 101, a physiological signal sensor 102, a movement sensing module 103, a positioning module 104, a micro-processor 105 and a wireless transmission module 106 installed therein, wherein the micro-processor 105 is electrically coupled to the physiological signal sensor 102, the movement sensing module 103, the positioning module 104 and the wireless transmission module 106, and the sensing module 101 is used for detecting various physiological information of the user, and the movement sensing module 103 is used for detecting the user's exercise status such as the exercise form or motion, and the positioning module 104 is used for detecting the user's position. The aforementioned components transmit the detected results to the micro-processor 105, and the wireless transmission module 106 transmits the data to the remote device 2.

The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus 1 is characterized in that the sensing module 101 is electrically coupled to the physiological signal sensor 102, and an electric conduction method is used for collecting a heart rate, an electrocardiogram (ECG) and an electromyography (EMG) of a human body, and the physiological signal sensor 102 is electrically coupled to the sensing module 101 for receiving the aforementioned physiological values to generate a physiological value signal, and the movement sensing module 103 and the positioning module 104 are used for the detection to generate a movement signal and a positioning signal so as to obtain the user's current motion or exercise condition. The user current positioning information, the physiological value signal, the movement signal and the positioning signal are transmitted to the micro-processor 106. Wherein, the present invention further comprises a timing module 107 electrically coupled to the micro-processor 105 for starting a timing operation, and continuing transmitting a time signal provided for the micro-processor 105 as a basis to integrate information included in the physiological value signal, the movement signal and the positioning signal. The micro-processor 105 includes a computing unit 1051 and a storage unit 1052, and the computing unit 1051 computes and compile the physiological value signal, the movement signal and the positioning signal to generate display data and stores the display data into the storage unit 1052. When the remote device 2 is online, the display data are timely outputted to the remote device 2 through the wireless transmission module 106 and provided for the user's viewing. On the other hand, when the remote device 2 is offline, the display data are stored continuously into the storage unit 1052, so that after the remote device 2 resumes its online status, the display data can be read from the storage unit 1052 through the wireless transmission module 106. Preferably, the wireless transmission module 106 is connected to the remote device 2 via a transmission method selected from the group of Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G and 4G.

Wherein, the movement sensing module 103 comprises a linear acceleration sensing unit 1031 and an angular acceleration sensing unit 1032 for sensing an exercise status during exercise, and the linear acceleration sensing unit 1031 and the angular acceleration sensing unit 1032 obtains a linear acceleration value and an angular acceleration value respectively, and after these values are compiled into the movement signal, the movement signal is transmitted to the micro-processor 105, and the computing unit 1051 computes the movement signal to obtain the user's exercise information including the step length, moving speed or displacement.

The positioning module 104 comprises a GPS unit 1041 and an air pressure sensing unit 1042. In the user's exercise, a satellite positioning method is used to confirm the user's current position, and the air pressure sensing unit 1042 derives the user's current altitude by air pressure, so as to prevent the factor of geographical altitude from affecting the accuracy of the satellite positioning. After compilation, the positioning signal is generated and transmitted to the micro-processor 105, and the computing unit 1051 combines the geographic location and altitude information to obtain the user's moving path and current position.

To let users obtain more diversified information and better applications, the present invention further comprises a temperature sensing module 108 and a vibration module 109, both electrically coupled to the micro-processor 105. The temperature sensing module 108 is used for detecting a human body temperature or an external ambient temperature and transmitting a temperature signal to the micro-processor 105. In addition, the user may use the remote device 2 to set a predetermined time for the timing module 107. After the timing module 107 has transmitted the time signal corresponding to the predetermined time, the micro-processor 105 drives the vibration module 109 to provide the effect of reminding the user, so that the present invention may be used for planning for the time duration of the exercise.

During the user's exercise, the display data may be viewed and obtained from the remote device 2, and the display data include one or more selected from the group consisting of a heart rate, an electrocardiogram (ECG), an electromyography (EMG), a step count, a step length, a moving speed, a current position coordinate, a moving path map, a consumed time, a body temperature and a current temperature. The users may selectively view the required information through the remote device 2 and control their physiological condition during exercise.

In FIG. 2, the fixing element 11 is a strip structure tied onto the user's chest and includes a pair of conductive electrode plates 111 and a pair of conductive fasteners 112. Preferably, the pair of conductive fasteners 112 are installed at both ends of the fixing element 11 respectively and communicated with the pair of conductive electrode plates 111. Preferably, the pair of conductive fasteners 112 are through holes and have a first end 1121 and a second end 1122, and the first end 1121 is greater than the second end 1122, but the present invention is not limited to such arrangement only. The sensor 10 includes a pair of electrode contacts 12 corresponding to the sensing module 101, such that after the fixing element 11 is surrounded and fixed to the user's chest, the pair of electrode contacts 12 may be latched from the first end 1121 and moved to the second end 1122 to define a latched status for fixing the fixing element 11 with the sensor 10 to conduct subsequent detection.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 for schematic views of applications of the present invention in a user's exercise, the user ties the fixing element 11 to the chest to obtain the best physiological sensing environment, and the pair of conductive electrode plates 111 are contacted with the user's body and communicated with the pair of conductive fasteners 112 and the pair of electrode contacts 12. The electric conduction method detects the physiological condition of the human body, and the detected physiological condition is transmitted to the sensor 10 and integrated and stored by the physiological and physical movement detection apparatus 1. As described in the first preferred embodiment, the physiological and physical movement detection apparatus 1 senses and compiles the environment parameters including the user's exercise status, and position into the micro-processor 105 of the physiological and physical movement detection apparatus 1. When the remote device 2 is not situated around the user, the aforementioned information are integrated into the display data, and the display data are stored in the sensor 10 and prepared for the user to read the display data through the remote device 2. If the user brings the remote device 2 with her/him while doing exercise, and the sensor 10 is set to online status, the user may operate the remote device 2 and read the display data via a wireless transmission method, so that the user knows her/his physiological condition and other environment information anytime.

Wherein, the sensor 10 includes a power supply element 13 for driving the physiological and physical movement detection apparatus 1, wherein the power supply element 13 may be a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery. In this preferred embodiment, the power supply element 13 is a rechargeable battery. The present invention further comprises a charging cradle 14, and the charging cradle 14 includes a pair of charging slots 141 corresponding to the pair of electrode contacts 12 for conducting the pair of electrode contacts 12 to perform charging. During use, the pair of electrode contacts 12 of the sensor 10 is plugged into the pair of charging slots 141 respectively.

In FIG. 6, the charging cradle 14 is a sensing charging cradle, and the sensor 10 is placed near the charging cradle 14 or directly onto the charging cradle 14 for performing the charging without requiring the step of plugging the pair of electrode contacts 12 into the charging slot 141. Therefore, the present invention provides a convenient charging method.

The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus 1 of the present invention not just timely detects the user physiological conditions including a heart rate, an ECG status and an EMG status by the electric conduction method, but also detects non-physiological signals by the positioning module 104 and the movement sensing module 103, so that users can control information of the exercising site or exercise status to plan for an exercise program effectively by integrating the information and know about their own physiological conditions. Regardless of an athletic, a sub-health group or a rehabilitation groups, users can obtain complete integrated information. Compared with the conventional physiological detecting apparatus, the present invention stores the detected and computed display data in the storage unit 1052 first, so that the users can read the display data through the remote device 2, even if a receiving end does not exist, or the remote device 2 is offline. The users need not to maintain the physiological and physical movement detection apparatus 1 to be connected online with the remote device 2 all the time in order to maintain the related data at an offline status. Obviously, the present invention improves the practicality and convenience significantly. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A physiological and physical movement detection apparatus, for detecting a physiological condition and a physical movement status of a human body during an exercise, recording and transmitting related information to a remote device, and providing the related information to a user, wherein the physiological and physical movement detection apparatus comprises a sensor and a fixing element, and the sensor is fixed onto a human body through the fixing element and further comprises a sensing module, a physiological signal sensor, a movement sensing module, a positioning module, a micro-processor and a wireless transmission module installed therein, and the micro-processor is electrically coupled to the physiological signal sensor, the movement sensing module, the positioning module and the wireless transmission module, and a detection result is transmitted to the micro-processor, and then data are transmitted to the remote device through the wireless transmission module, and the physiological and physical movement detection apparatus is characterized in that the sensing module is electrically coupled to the physiological signal sensor, and an electric current detection method is used for collecting a physiological information including heart rate, an electrocardiogram (ECG) status and an electromyography (EMG) status of the human body, the physiological information is transmitted to the physiological signal sensor, and a physiological value signal is generated, and the movement sensing module and the positioning module detect and generate a movement signal and a positioning signal respectively to obtain information of physical activity status and positioning information of the user, and the physiological value signal, the movement signal and the positioning signal are transmitted to the micro-processor respectively, wherein the sensor further comprises a timing module electrically coupled to the micro-processor, so that when the physiological and physical movement detection apparatus is turned on, the timing module starts timing and keeps transmitting a time signal to the micro-processor, and the micro-processor comprises a computing unit and a storage unit, and the computing unit computes the physiological value signal, the movement signal and the positioning signal and uses the time signal as a basis to generate a display data, and the display data is stored in the storage unit, and when the remote device is online and connected to the sensor, the display data are transmitted to the remote device instantly through the wireless transmission module and provided for the user's viewing, and when the remote device is offline, the display data are stored into the storage unit continuously.
 2. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement sensing module comprises a linear acceleration sensing unit and an angular acceleration sensing unit for sensing an exercise status of the user, and the linear acceleration sensing unit and the angular acceleration sensing unit obtain a linear acceleration value and an angular acceleration value respectively and compile the values into the movement signal to be transmitted to the micro-processor, and then the computing unit obtains a step length and a moving speed of the exercise status of the user.
 3. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 2, wherein the positioning module comprises a GPS unit and an air pressure sensing unit, and a satellite positioning method is provided for confirming the user's current position, and the air pressure sensing unit is provided for detecting the current altitude of the user and compiling the user's current position and altitude into the positioning signal to be transmitted to the micro-processor, and then the computing unit combines a geographic location with the altitude information to obtain the user's exercise path and current position.
 4. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a temperature sensing module electrically coupled to the micro-processor for detecting a human body temperature or an external temperature and transmitting a temperature signal to the micro-processor.
 5. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vibration module, and a predetermined time being inputted by the remote device, such that after the timing module transmits the time signal corresponding to the predetermined time, the micro-processor drives the vibration module to achieve the effect of reminding the user.
 6. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 5, wherein the display data include one or more selected from the group consisting of a heart rate, an electrocardiogram (ECG), an electromyography (EMG), a step count, a step length, a moving speed, a current position coordinate, a moving path map, a consumed time, a body temperature and a current temperature.
 7. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a vibration module, and a predetermined time being inputted by the remote device, such that after the timing module transmits the time signal corresponding to the predetermined time, the micro-processor drives the vibration module to achieve the effect of reminding the user.
 8. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 7, wherein the display data include one or more selected from the group consisting of a heart rate, an electrocardiogram (ECG), an electromyography (EMG), a step count, a step length, a moving speed, a current position coordinate, a moving path map, a consumed time, a body temperature and a current temperature.
 9. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a vibration module, and a predetermined time being inputted by the remote device, such that after the timing module transmits the time signal corresponding to the predetermined time, the micro-processor drives the vibration module to achieve the effect of reminding the user.
 10. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 9, wherein the display data include one or more selected from the group consisting of a heart rate, an electrocardiogram (ECG), an electromyography (EMG), a step count, a step length, a moving speed, a current position coordinate, a moving path map, a consumed time, a body temperature and a current temperature.
 11. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a vibration module, and a predetermined time being inputted by the remote device, such that after the timing module transmits the time signal corresponding to the predetermined time, the micro-processor drives the vibration module to achieve the effect of reminding the user.
 12. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 11, wherein the display data include one or more selected from the group consisting of a heart rate, an electrocardiogram (ECG), an electromyography (EMG), a step count, a step length, a moving speed, a current position coordinate, a moving path map, a consumed time, a body temperature and a current temperature.
 13. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission module is connected to the remote device via a transmission method selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G and 4G.
 14. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixing element is a strip structure for being tied onto the user's chest, and the fixing element includes a pair of conductive electrode plates and a pair of conductive fasteners.
 15. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensor includes a pair of electrode contacts corresponding to the sensing module, such that after the fixing element surrounds the user's chest, the pair of electrode contacts and the pair of conductive fasteners are engaged with each other for fixing the fixing element and the sensor to a human body for performing a subsequent detection.
 16. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 15, wherein the sensor includes a power supply element.
 17. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 16, wherein the power supply element is a rechargeable battery.
 18. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a charging cradle corresponding to the pair of electrode contacts and having a pair of charging slots provided for conducting the pair of electrode contacts to perform an electric charging.
 19. The physiological and physical movement detection apparatus of claim 15, wherein the pair of conductive fasteners include through holes, and have a first end and a second end, and the first end is larger than the second end, and the pair of electrode contacts are latched from the first end and moved to the second end to define a latched status. 